NEWS RELEASE
For more information contact:
Wisconsin Lakes Partnership / Care of: University of Wisconsin-Extension Lakes
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources (CNR)
800 Reserve Street / Stevens Point, WI 54481 / (715)-346-2116
Web site: http://www.uwsp.edu/uwexlakes/ / Electronic mail address: uwexlakes@uwsp.edu
For immediate release
[YOU OR YOUR LAKE ORGANIZATION] joined hundreds of other lake enthusiasts
at the 33rd annual Wisconsin Lakes Convention
For over three decades, the Wisconsin Lakes Convention has provided an exceptional opportunity for people to come together
and share their water interests with other concerned citizens and lake professionals. This year, hundreds of attendees united to
celebrate and protect Wisconsin’s legacy of lakes. [YOUR NAME] represented [YOUR ORGANIZATION] at this year’s convention in
Green Bay. At the convention, [HE/SHE] found ideas for blending the arts and science together in water conservation efforts. They also
became better informed about the latest lake research and management techniques and had the opportunity to connect and network
with lake enthusiasts from around the country! By hearing and learning from lake and watershed success stories, challenges, and
solutions from elsewhere, [YOUR NAME] identified several techniques, strategies, and ideas that are transferable to [HIS/HER] local
lake.
The 2011 Wisconsin Lakes Convention had a theme of Speaking for Lakes where it presented a plethora of water topics with
an emphasis on advocating for lake conservation and protection. Experts from around the country joined convention participants to
discuss current technologies, management options, educational outreach ideas and policy changes concerning Wisconsin’s lakes.
Eric Eckl, founder of Water Words that Work, was a guest speaker at the opening plenary session of the convention on
Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Eckl shared insights and information gleaned from more than 15 years of experience in planning and carrying
-more-
out issue advocacy, fundraising, and behavior change campaigns. He provided convention attendees with thoughts and methods to
professionalize and modernize their communications on water conservation. Mr. Eckl also helped lake citizens in identifying water
words that work and habits for utilizing these words in speaking for our lakes effectively.
In the second plenary on Wednesday morning, attendees received a special example of how lake lovers can use art and
science blended together to explore lakes. Terry Daulton, John Bates, and John Magnuson shared their perspectives on participating in
an environmental education project around lakes that included artists and scientists. Attendees saw the results of this partnership upclose through the project’s exhibition at the convention [INCLUDE HERE AN IDEA FOR CREATING YOUR OWN ART AND SCIENCE
COLLABORATION WITHIN YOUR LAKE COMMUNITY].
Also running through the three day convention were mixed concurrent sessions on various lake topics. These presentations
included: research findings and trends in lake management; native plant and animal ecology; news related to aquatic invasive species
containment and control, and ideas about strengthening leadership and communication for lake groups [SHARE AN EXPERIENCE
YOU HAD FROM A CONCURRENT SESSION, WHAT YOU DISCOVERED FROM THEM, OR WHY YOU LIKED THEM].
Assorted workshops were offered throughout the convention as well; subjects included: opportunities for citizen volunteering
and monitoring work; practices to bolster lake organizational effectiveness through networking tools, land use, and social marketing
campaigns; understanding and solving erosion control and shoreland management challenges; joining together the arts and science;
and learning about the ins and outs of being a lake district commissioner [PROVIDE A STORY RELATED TO ONE OF THE
WORKSHOPS YOU ATTENDED OR A PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE GLEANED FROM THESE GATHERINGS THAT YOU WANT TO
APPLY TO YOUR LAKE].
This year’s convention included the third annual poster session, which provided an opportunity for citizens, lake management
professionals, and researchers to share their success stories on assorted lake matters. In an interactive setting, attendees asked
pointed questions and received detailed information about what worked for these projects and what went wrong. Participants could
collect essential contacts, identify management applications of interest, and find ways to transfer these success stories back to projects
on their own lake.
In addition to the various sessions, lake-related businesses and educational groups offered displays about lake management
services and water interests. On Wednesday, April 13th, the Wisconsin Lake Stewardship Awards were presented to individuals, groups,
public servants, and youth organizations doing outstanding work for Wisconsin’s lakes. These awards are the highest honor bestowed
to anyone for lake protection in Wisconsin [IF SOMEONE FROM YOUR LAKE COMMUNITY WAS NOMINATED OR AWARDED,
MENTION THEM HERE].
The Wisconsin Lakes Partnership, a nationally recognized and successful collaboration of Wisconsin Lakes, UW-Extension
Lakes and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, hosts the lakes convention each year. For more information on the
Wisconsin Lakes Convention, contact the partnership via UW-Extension Lakes at (715)-346-2116 or Wisconsin Lakes at (608)-6614313.
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